Come out and enjoy the pre-fall weather at high elevation in Willcox Wine Country. The vineyards are in the final weeks of harvest, so you can still spot some beautiful, nearly ripe clusters hanging in the vines. The monsoons are drawing down now, but might bring in an evening storm now and then. For the most part, the weather is cool and dry now, and soon the fall colors will appear.
Never been wine tasting before? Don’t know what to wear? Relax! We’ve put together a few useful tips about what to expect. And please know that while the wine might be world class, you won’t find any snootiness here. Wine tasting is a no-pressure way to explore your wine horizons, as well as confirm the styles and wines that you already know you like. So get comfortable!
Never been wine tasting before? Don’t know what to wear? Relax! We’ve put together a few useful tips about what to expect. And please know that while the wine might be world class, you won’t find any snootiness here. Wine tasting is a no-pressure way to explore your wine horizons, as well as confirm the styles and wines that you already know you like. So get comfortable!
Tasting rooms in Willcox Wine Country are open to the public, so just come right in and make yourself at home. You’ll pay around $7 to $10 dollars for a tasting flight, and that usually includes the wine glass to take home (if you want to keep it). Bring that wine glass to the other tasting rooms and you will often receive a discount on the wine tasting charge. Or stock your cupboard with a very nice assortment of souvenir wine glasses. Tip: Bring something to stow the wine glasses where they won’t break in your car.
A tasting flight is typically 4 to 6 pours from the selection of wines available at the tasting room. Each pour is 1 ounce of wine, so keep in mind that you will be drinking the equivalent of about one glass of wine during the wine tasting.
It is very handy to have a designated driver, and regardless, you should limit yourself to a small number tasting rooms on a given day. Plan on spending from 30 minutes to an hour at each tasting room, and add travel time to plan your day. There are several hotels and B&Bs in the area, so if you can stay for a couple days, that allows you to visit more tasting rooms, and at a more leisurely pace.
Most tasting rooms are open from Thursday or Friday through Sunday, from about 11am to 5pm. Some tasting rooms are open on additional days, or even all week. Check the Wineries page where open hours are posted for all of the tasting rooms. If it’s a 3-day holiday weekend, most stay open on the Monday. Check tasting room websites and Facebook pages for extended hours around other holidays. Sign up for newsletters at your favorite wineries so you can keep up with what’s happening there.
Tip 1. Purchase a few bottles of the wines that you like. This might be your only opportunity to purchase that wine! Even if the winery can be found closer to home in a retail store or restaurant, that merchant may not carry the exact wine you want. And wineries here are low production, so the wine might be sold out by the time you return. Tasting rooms sometimes offer a discount on multiple bottle purchases.
Tip 2. Bring along a cooler or blankets for stashing your purchases where the bottles will remain cool in your vehicle, especially on warmer days. On hot days, take your wine purchases inside with you to the next tasting room so they don’t bake in your car. Avoid putting wine in your trunk where temperatures could soar, even when the ac is on.
Tip 3. No appointment is needed as long as you are visiting a tasting room during its advertised open hours. But if the tasting room is closed when you want to visit and they offer appointments, give them a call. Or ask the tasting room where you are at to make the call for you.
Tip 4. Only a very few tasting rooms offer food, and the food is usually just snacks, so plan accordingly. You may want to schedule a lunch or snack break at points between tasting room visits, or bring a picnic (see next pointer), and for sure, start the day with a good meal.
Tip 5. If it’s a nice day, bring a picnic. Several tasting rooms have a terrace. And you can purchase wine by the glass, or purchase a bottle to enjoy with your lunch. Keep in mind that Arizona liquor law allows you to consume alcoholic beverages only from the particular tasting room you are at.
Remember some key points. A designated driver is a very good thing to have when wine tasting. Follow posted speed limits. And of course, drink responsibly and have a good time!
Come to Cochise County to experience peace and quiet in an ambiance that is rural, scenic, and eccentric. Put your adventure hat on. Connect with the Old West history of southeastern Arizona at one of the many museums and historical sites in the area. Enjoy the outdoors hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, camping, or exploring caverns and nature preserves. During the growing season, visit the u-Pick farms and go home with fresh vegetables and fruits to pair with your wine selections.
Chiricahua National Monument
Highway 181
Southeast of Willcox
(520) 824-3560
nps.gov/chir
Cochise Stronghold
Ironwood Road
Cochise, AZ
fs.usda.gov
Fort Bowie / Apache Pass
Apache Pass Road
Southeast of Willcox
(520) 847-2500
nps.gov/fobo
Kartchner Caverns State Park
2980 S Highway 90
Benson, AZ
azstateparks.com/parks/kaca/
Muleshoe Ranch
6502 N. Muleshoe Ranch Rd.
Willcox, AZ
(520) 212-4295
nature.org
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area
Kansas Settlement Road
(~3.5 miles south of Highway 186 intersection)
South of Willcox
azgfd.com
Amerind Museum
2100 N. Amerind Rd.
Dragoon, AZ 85609
(520) 586-3666
amerind.org
Chiricahua Regional Museum
127 E. Maley St.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-3971
explorecochise.com
Friends of Marty Robbins Museum
156 N. Railroad Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-1404
friendsofmartyrobbins.org
Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum
150 N. Railroad Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-4583
rexallenmuseum.org
Apple Annie’s Orchard
2081 W Hardy Rd
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-2084
appleannies.com
Historic Railroad Park – Willcox
155 N. Railroad Ave.
Willcox, AZ
Railroad Park on Facebook
Southern Pacific Willcox Train Depot
101 S. Railroad Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-6034
visitarizona.com
Willcox Historic Theater
134 N. Railroad Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-3333
willcoxtheater.com
Willcox Wine Country is in the midst of vast range lands, so you’ll naturally find steaks, beef brisket, and ribs here in Willcox. This area is close to the Mexican border, so you may also want to indulge and dine on authentic south-of-the-border recipes. Or maybe you are in the mood for some tasty tapas.
Apple Annie’s Country Store
1510 N. Circle I Rd.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-2084
appleannies.com
Big Tex BBQ
130 E. Maley St.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-4423
Big Tex on Facebook
Double S Steakhouse
1201 W. Rex Allen Dr.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-3800
doublessteakhouse.com
Isabel’s South of the Border
115 S Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-0859
Isabel’s on Facebook
Isabel’s on the Web
Rix’s Tavern
176 S. Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-3430
Rix’s on Facebook
The Rock Saloon and Grill at Triangle T
4190 W. Dragoon Rd.
Dragoon, AZ 85609
(520) 586-7533
azretreatcenter.com
Tapas at Coronado Vineyards
2909 E. Country Club Dr.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-2993
coronadovineyards.com
Tortilleria Taqueria La Unica
142 N. Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85623
(520) 384-0010
La Unica on Facebook
Spend a night or two in Willcox Wine Country to make sure you have plenty of time to do everything you want to do here! From B&Bs, to national brand hotels, to local inns, you’ll be sure to find accommodations to make your extended stay leisurely and comfortable.
Arizona Sunset Inn
340 S. Haskell Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-3400
sunsetwillcox.com
Days Inn
724 N. Bisbee Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-4222
daysinn.com
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
1251 Virginia Ave.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 384-3333
willcoxlodging.com
Surestay Plus by Best Western
1100 W. Rex Allen Dr.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 766-3700
bestwestern.com
Cochise Stronghold Retreat
2126 Windancer Trail
Pearce, AZ 85625
(520) 826-4141 / (877) 426-4141
cochisestrongholdretreat.com
Dos Cabezas Retreat
7101 E. White Pacheco St.
Willcox, AZ 85643
(520) 507-1244
doscabezasretreat.com
Dream Catcher B&B
13097 S. Highway 181
Pearce, AZ 85625
(520) 824-3127
dreamcatcherbnb.com
Hummingbird Ranch Vacation House
Rt 191 & Kansas Settlement Road
Pearce, AZ 85625
(520) 265-3079
hummingbirdranch.wixsite.com/
hummingbird-ranch
Sunglow Retreat
14206 S. Sunglow Rd
Pearce, AZ 85625
(520) 824-3153
sunglowretreat.com
Triangle T Guest Ranch
4190 W. Dragoon Road
Dragoon, AZ 85609
(520) 586-7533
azretreatcenter.com
We are a consortium of Arizona Farm Wineries located in the Willcox area in the southeastern corner of Arizona. We invite you to visit our tasting rooms and enjoy our locally grown and produced wines.